AP, Manchester :
Sergio Aguero’s exquisite solo strike and late goals by Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho earned Manchester City a 3-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday in the first heavyweight showdown in the Premier League, compounding the champions’ early-season problems.
Aguero made amends for a slew of early missed chances by exchanging passes with Yaya Toure, twisting inside his marker and placing a pinpoint shot inside the far post in the 32nd minute.
Such was City’s dominance and attacking threat in the first half that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho substituted captain John Terry at halftime to shake up his team.
A hungry-looking City retained the initiative, though. Kompany headed in David Silva’s corner in the 79th and Fernandinho drove in a third six minutes later for a victory that could have a big psychological effect in the title race, even as early as the second round of fixtures.
“We always dominate Chelsea,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. “Maybe we draw against them (twice) last year and before we lost but always we dominate Chelsea. Today we made the complete work.”
Chelsea was a shadow of the side that won the title at a canter last season, finishing eight points ahead of second-place City. The champions now have one point from two games, after drawing 2-2 at home to Swansea in its opener, having previously lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield.
Mourinho refused to accept his team was beaten by the better team, saying the final score line was “completely fake.” He did acknowledge, though, that Chelsea was “defensively poor in the first half.”
Mourinho’s uncomfortable start to the season has also seen him get embroiled in a spat with members of his medical staff, leading to the first-team doctor and head physiotherapist being dropped from match-day duties against City.
Things are looking much rosier for a rejuvenated City, which has won its first two matches 3-0 and is top of the standings on goal difference.
Like against West Bromwich Albion on Monday, City’s players displayed the hunger and aggression they often lacked last season, with Chelsea unable to cope with the power of Toure in midfield and the movement of Aguero up front.
Aguero, back in the starting team after being on the bench against West Brom, was often unplayable and was denied three times by stand-in goalkeeper Asmir Begovic in the opening 20 minutes before finally putting City ahead.
